Exploration of the Mid-Atlantic Highlands and legislation surrounding it: A Comprehensive Overview (of the Highlands Conservation Act)
The Highlands, a ribbon of green space stretching through northwestern Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, is cherished by millions for its distinctive natural landscapes and outdoor recreation opportunities. However, this beloved region is also threatened, as it serves as a vital source of clean drinking water for downstream communities and supports a variety of wildlife.
To ensure the Highlands' protection, the Highlands Conservation Act was passed in 2004, providing for the purchase and preservation of threatened lands in the four-state Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic corridor. This act is now being reauthorized in 2021, with a focus on extending and improving conservation efforts.
Key updates in the reauthorization bill include an extended authorization period for funding, increased emphasis on partnerships between governments, private landowners, and conservation organizations, a stronger focus on sustainable development, and a strengthened role for scientific input and land management planning. The bill also seeks to double the yearly funding to the program from $10 million to $20 million.
In 2019, Congress authorized $10 million be allocated to land conservation projects under the Highlands Conservation Act. The following year, this allocation was increased to $20 million. The reauthorization bill aims to build on this momentum, bringing climate change science more front and center.
The Highlands Conservation Act helps preserve not just the forests, but also the diverse wildlife that calls the region home. From the bobcat and Indiana bat to the bog turtle, brook trout, warblers, dwarf wedgemussel, and orchids like the ladyslipper and the wild Columbine, the Highlands support a rich and varied ecosystem.
To help pass the Highlands Conservation Act reauthorization bill, individuals can contact their Congressional Representatives and Senators to express support, engage with local and national conservation organizations, participate in public comment opportunities, raise public awareness, and join AMC's Conservation Action Network to be alerted when your voice can make a difference.
The Highlands Coalition, for which AMC serves as fiscal agent, is advocating for full federal funding of the Highlands Conservation Act. Your support is needed to help protect this vital region for future generations.
- Lifelong learning about climate change science is crucial, as it is now being integrated more prominently into the reauthorization of the Highlands Conservation Act.
- Environmental science, including the study of the Highlands' diverse wildlife, plays a significant role in the Highlands Conservation Act, which seeks to preserve the region for future generations.
- To支持 the reauthorization of the Highlands Conservation Act, individuals can participate in educational opportunities, such as learning about sustainable development and the importance of environmental-science, in addition to contacting their representatives and engaging with conservation organizations.
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